Defense key for streaking ‘Cats
The GCSU soccer team won its seventh game of the season Wednesday night, defeating the Lander University Bearcats 1-0 in an exciting match.
Sophomore midfielder Kayla Emerson scored the game’s lone goal with 27:49 left in the second half.
“I knew I wanted to turn, but I didn’t know if I wanted to shoot or pass,” said Kayla Emerson of her game-winning goal. “I just looked up and saw open net, took a shot and hoped for it to stay low,” Emerson said. “Luckily, it went in.”
The home win marked the fourth consecutive shutout victory for the Bobcats, who have yet to allow a point at home this season. GCSU took 23 shots compared to just seven by Lander, only one of which was a threat to the Bobcat goal.
“I’ve been with other teams and seen improvements on defense before,” said first-year head coach Juan Pablo Favero. “But it’s never been this dominating. This was our seventh shutout. We’re not giving up many shots, and the shots we’re giving up, they’re from 30 or 40 yards out.”
Nationally, the Bobcats are ranked fourth in team goals against average and fifth in shutout percentage among Division II schools. The Bobcats have not allowed a goal in their previous 409 minutes and 9 seconds of play.
“[The defense] can make coaches and players come here and think and worry about how to score goals against us,” Favero said. “It’s a tremendous psychological advantage.”
Lately, the offense has also been playing well. On Sunday, the team shutout North Alabama at home, scoring five goals in a lopsided win. In the three games preceding Wednesday night’s win, the Bobcats averaged over four goals per game, an excellent number considering their defense allows fever than one goal per game. The team also boasts an incredible 21-2 goal disparity and a 167-55 shot differential over its opponents this season.
The Bobcats are also represented among conference leaders in numerous offensive and defensive categories. Sophomore goalkeeper Mary Rob Plunkett leads the Peach Belt Conference with a miniscule Goals Against Average of 0.27. Senior forward Hayley Ferrell is tied for fifth in points, fourth in goals and leads the conference in game-winning goals.
As a result of the team’s great play, they are currently ranked fourth in the Southeast Region of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Poll. It has also led some to believe that this team has a serious chance at regional and national honors.
Ferrell is one of those believers.
“You can see it in our eyes in practice,” she said. “In the preseason, we set out goals and we’re determined to get there. It’s hard to explain, we just feel it’s our time.”
The Bobcats currently sit third in the PBC at 1-1, but hold the second-best overall record in the conference at 7-1-1.
The team will look to continue its home field dominance and improve its PBC mark in two upcoming games against conference foes. Saturday, the team faces Armstrong Atlantic State University at 7 p.m. The next game will be Tuesday against Georgia Southwestern State University.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 3 2008. Filed under Sports.
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